Home / Authors / Colin Powell

Colin Powell

Colin Powell Quotes

Former United States Secretary of State

Colin Powell, born on April 5, 1937, is a former United States Secretary of State known for his significant contributions to American politics and the military. He served as the National Security Advisor and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell is renowned for his exceptional leadership and diplomatic skills, becoming the first African American Secretary of State in U.S. history.

Filter quotes by topic

All People Leader Thinking Ifs Military World Should War Way Country States United Iraq Needs United States Nations Weapons Giving Hussein Organization

Famous Colin Powell Quotes

“Give me the right people and I don’t much care what organization you give me. Good things will happen. Give me the wrong people and it doesn’t matter what you do with the organization. Bad things will happen.”

People Giving Matter Happens Care Organization Give Me Good Things Bad Things

Author:Colin Powell

“I have always tried to do my job in a way that I have people give me different points of view.”

People Way Giving Different Jobs Views Give Me Point Of View Different Points Of View

Author:Colin Powell

“Whenever you start-give it your best. The opportunities are there to be anything you want to be. But wanting to be someone isn't enough; dreaming about it isn't enough; thinking about it isn't enough. You've got to study for it, work for it, fight for it with all your heart and soul, because nobody is going to hand it to you.”

Thinking Want Giving Heart Soul Enough Dream Hands Fighting Opportunity Study Heart And Soul

Author:Colin Powell

“The best way to create a winning team is to train them, give them everything they need to get the job done and second, make sure they know what the job is and what the job will be. So you connect strategy to resources.”

Knows Way Needs Giving Done Jobs Winning Team Resources Strategy Train Best Way Get The Job Done Winning Team

Author:Colin Powell

“The most important thing I learned is that soldiers watch what their leaders do. You can give them classes and lecture them forever, but it is your personal example they will follow.”

Giving Important Leader Class Watches Forever Example Important Things Soldier Lectures

Author:Colin Powell

“I'm an American, first and foremost, and I'm very proud - I said, I've said to my beloved friend and colleague John McCain, a friend of 25 years, "John, I love you, but I'm not just going to vote for you on the basis of our affection or friendship." And I've said to Barack Obama, "I admire you. I'll give you all the advice I can. But I'm not going to vote for you just because you're black." We have to move beyond this.”

Giving Years Firsts Said I Can Moving Black Advice Love You Proud Vote Bases Affection Admire Barack Beloved Colleagues Mccain Admire You Beloved Friends

Author:Colin Powell

“The person who will decide whether or not there will be war or peace is Saddam Hussein, and all he has to do is give up these terrible weapons that he has used to kill fellow Arabs, fellow Muslims in that part of the world, and to step away from his past behaviour which invaded neighbouring countries.”

World Giving Persons War Country Past Used Steps Terrible Giving Up Weapons Fellows Behaviour Saddam Hussein

Author:Colin Powell

“I think all of the attention of the world, to include the attention of the Arab world, should be on Saddam Hussein and whether or not he is prepared to give up the weapons of mass destruction that he has used to terrorise the region.”

Thinking World Giving Should Used Attention Giving Up Weapons Mass Destruction Prepared Regions Saddam Hussein Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Arab World

Author:Colin Powell

“It was President [Bill] Clinton and the United States congress in 1998 which said that the regime has to be changed because the regime would not give up its weapons of mass destruction. We came into office in 2001 and kept that policy because Saddam Hussein had not changed.”

“It remains our policy to change the regime until such time as the regime changes itself. So far, we cannot be sure that he is cooperating or he [Saddam Hussein] is acting in a way that could give us comfort, or should give the international community comfort, that he is giving up his weapons of mass destruction. He continues to give us statements that suggest he is not in possession of weapons of mass destruction when we know he is.”

“In the military we also learn principles of war which also work in a corporate setting: How do you concentrate as much of your force as possible on a critical point and take a risk elsewhere? In business that translates into focusing your investment on marketing, sales, or R&D, whichever will give you the greatest return.”

Giving War Force Principles Risk Military Return Investment Marketing Critical Setting Settings Corporate Elsewhere Translate

Author:Colin Powell

“First you train the followers to accomplish the mission. Second, you resource them: Make sure that they have the tools to do the job. Third, you reward them: You give them medals or bonuses.”

Giving Firsts Jobs Resources Tools Thirds Train Rewards Accomplish Missions Followers Medal Bonus

Author:Colin Powell

“How often have we seen politicians take a principle position only to give it up three days later? That is what makes democracy so fascinating.”

Giving Three Principles Democracy Position Politician Fascinating

Author:Colin Powell

“Giving back involves a certain amount of giving up.”

Giving Certain Amount Giving Up Giving Back

Author:Colin Powell

“I don't want to spend the rest of my life giving speeches.”

“Too often we act - ask our schools to be truant officers, our teachers to be truant officers, because we're giving them children who have, you know, they're not ready to learn. And if they're not ready to learn by the third grade, they know they're behind.”

Ifs Knows Giving Children School Asks Behinds Teacher Ready Thirds Grades Officers Not Ready Third Grade

Author:Colin Powell

“When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I'll like it or not. Disagreement, at this state, stimulates me. But once a decision is made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.”

Ifs Thinking Giving Mean Made Ends States Decision Opinion Issues Honest Loyalty Debate Disagreement Executing

Author:Colin Powell

“My responsibility, our responsibility as lucky Americans, is to try to give back to this country as much as it has given us, as we continue our American journey together.”

Giving Trying Country Together Given Leadership Responsibility Journey Military Lucky Giving Back Journey Together

Book:My American Journey

Source: My American Journey

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. I am talking about a gung-ho attitude that says 'we can change things here, we can achieve awesome goals, we can be the best. 'Spare me the grim litany of the 'realist;' give me the unrealistic aspirations of the optimist any day.”

Giving Force Goal Change Attitude Talking Achieve Optimism Give Me Aspiration Being The Best Perpetual Spares Optimist Grim Realist

Author:Colin Powell

About the Author

Born: April 5, 1937
Known for: Former United States Secretary of State
Quotes: 355

Related Topics

People Leader Thinking Ifs Military World Should War Way Country States United Iraq Needs United States Nations Weapons Giving Hussein Organization

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

My American JourneyRelated source material

It Worked for Me: In Life and LeadershipRelated source material

It Worked for Me (Enhanced Edition): In Life and LeadershipRelated source material

A Soldier's Way: An AutobiographyRelated source material

Similar Authors

John F. KerryBrowse related quotes
Dick CheneyBrowse related quotes
Donald RumsfeldBrowse related quotes
Saddam HusseinBrowse related quotes
Condoleezza RiceBrowse related quotes
Wesley ClarkBrowse related quotes
Tony BlairBrowse related quotes
Sandy BergerBrowse related quotes
Barack ObamaBrowse related quotes
Ari FleischerBrowse related quotes